Big Star or The Beatles?

The Beatles had a larger discography, but I think that both bands had similarly consistent and irresistible careers. In defense of their smaller output, Big Star seemed to pack nothing but memorable songs onto their three proper records. If you've heard the Keep an Eye on the Sky box set, this might not seem such a laughable question.

First, no. Big Star was a unique band. There isn't another band that has ever sounded like them, despite many of them trying their level best.

That initial post left out the "among other things" that I'd meant to put in between "on" and "mid-'60's," which gave the wrong impression. Sorry. Fast typing and all that.

I wasn't saying that they weren't unique - no one has ever fused the Byrds, 1965-era Who and mid-'60's Beatles with a sense of rhythm, joy and drive that's more akin to soul than to rock, which is what Big Star did on the first two albums - but I was saying that Big Star wouldn't have existed without the Beatles. And sure, you could say that most bands wouldn't exist without the Beatles. But it's especially true for Big Star.

And I'm not sure I'd even really count Sister Lovers as a Big Star album. There's more I could write about that, but I don't want to completely derail the thread.

big_dave wrote:Half the tracks on every Big Star record are flavourless filler, or gross-arse trend-hopping Bowie shit like "Feel" and "India Song". The great Big Star songs are certainly unique, and nothing if not heartbreaking but there's probably less than a dozen of them across three albums.

Nah. Every single song on Radio City and Sister Lovers is great. Maybe "She's a Mover" is a bit off, but it is still as good as any of the lesser tracks on the best Beatles record you care to pick.

I like the Beatles, like some of their music a whole lot, but I always feel like I can hear them think. I don't like that about their music.

I'm with Tim M on this one. the Beatles i like just fine, but they are -by definition- history's most overrated band. I could go my whole life without hearing another Beatles song.

big star songs are just so fundamentally right to me - and so perfectly turned out. If they had the kind of fame and money that the Beatles were afforded, Big Star never would have made Sgt. Peppers. (History's most overrated album)

Big Star.

John Brannon wrote:check it out i have rules for the band: no smiles, no shorts, and your're wearing fucking boots on stage